One Youth Challenge Academy student doubled over with a hacking cough Thursday morning. Another shivered in the warm early fall sunlight, hugging himself and complaining of chills. The sniffling, sneezing teens appeared to be feeling absolutely miserable as they trudged up the stairs into Fort Stewart's Dental Clinic 1.

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked an effort by Democrats and the White House to lift the ban on gays from serving openly in the military, voting unanimously against advancing a major defense policy bill that included the provision.

Staff Sgt. Laquawanda Bagley, 32, wears many hats. One of four women in her company, the intelligence analyst adheres to a strong leadership style. When she's home in the states, her 3-year old son, Xavier, just calls her "mom."

Defense Department officials Wednesday unveiled the new Pentagon POW/MIA exhibit. The unveiling was timely, as today is National POW/ MIA Recognition Day. Created by Congress in 1998 as part of the Defense Authorization Act, the observance is recognized on the third Friday of September each year.

The Department of Defense identified Thursday the two soldiers who were shot and killed by an Iraqi soldier on Sept. 7 in northern Iraq, while supporting Operation New Dawn. The deceased were not assigned to Fort Stewart. Nine other soldiers were wounded in the attack. The shooting is still under investigation.

Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III took over the top command in Iraq Wednesday in a change-of-command ceremony held at the al Faw Palace in Baghdad. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno handed the reins of the command to Austin before such prominent guests as Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq James Jeffrey, 3rd Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo and Iraqi security leaders.

Fifty-one soldiers from the First Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, Georgia Army National Guard, will redeploy to Hunter Army Airfield this evening. The unit's welcome home ceremony will be at 7 p.m. in a hanger on the airfield.

Army commanders say Iraqis are ready for Operation New Dawn, a mission of support and sustainment that begins today. The U.S. military has officially ended combat operations and handed the reins over to the Iraqis.

The White House is mounting a campaign to salute troops, especially those who have served in Iraq, leading up to next Tuesday's address to the nation marking the end of U.S. combat operations in that country. The address will be at 8 p.m. The campaign is called Saluting Service in Iraq.

A soldier assigned to Hunter Army Airfield died Aug. 19 from wounds he sustained during a firefight with insurgents while deployed to Konar Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.